His plan for me all along

Hi!

We just got back from transfers and getting the oil changed and all kinds of crazy stuff today.  I drove all day and I'm SO EXHAUSTED.  I'm sorry, but this is going to be a lame email.  It was so nice talking to you guys yesterday.  I agree, in a weird way, it felt like it hadn't been too long. Crazy to think that next time we talk I'll be halfway through my mission!

I feel like the mission has made me adopt a more "who cares" kind of attitude as weird as that sounds. Okay, so some person is really mean to us on the street...who cares? So we get rocks thrown at us...who cares? So creepy old Mexican men make weird comments to us...who cares?  I feel like none of these little things matter because if we're doing the right things, it's all going to work out in the end. 

Another thing I've come to understand is how little of this work is my responsibility.  Missionary work is God's work. He says so in Moses 1:39: "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."  My job is to be here, work hard, and open my mouth.  It's the responsibility of the Spirit to actually convert these people.  It's the responsibility of these people to accept for themselves the truth of this restored gospel. We, as missionaries, are so buoyed up by Heavenly Father in this work it's not even funny.

I'm really happy to be staying here in Cornelius for another transfer. I love this place. I love the branch. I love the people. We are so incredibly welcomed and loved here. Sister Villalobos has been saying over the past couple of days that it feels like she's leaving home all over again and I think that's how I'll feel when I leave here, too.

Missionary work is really amazing.  I remember all the reasons I had growing up for not wanting to serve a mission and I look back and think how silly I was for putting those things ahead of an opportunity like this.  I know I kept using the word "enlightened" yesterday but I can't think of a better way to describe it; I feel greater light in my life. Everything just makes sense.  I see more clearly than I did before. I can't imagine not having gone on a mission and not having this experience because it's really amazing. That feeling is such a testament to me that Heavenly Father had this in His plan for me all along.

I love you!  Enjoy your time with Robyn and Jeffrey and sweet Hudson so soon and PLEASE send me pictures! Like, seriously, everyday send me a picture of that cute face.

I have not received Sis. Hawkins package yet but that is so sweet of her and I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Again, sorry this email is so lame and short and that, again, there are no pictures.  As soon as I get my Ipad back I'll have the other sisters air drop all the pics to me and you'll get 50 at once.

Love you!!

Hayley


Note from Mom:  Pictures or not, I do not consider this email "lame" in any respect.  I am so grateful for the experiences Hayley is having and the "enlightenment" she is receiving.  We had a GREAT Skype chat on Sunday.  She is SO happy and that makes us so happy as well.  When asked what is one thing she has learned so far on her mission, her response was "there are only two things that really matter in this life - the gospel and family.  NOTHING else matters".  Her companion, Hermana Villalobos (far left), transferred to a different area on Monday.  Hayley is now companions with Hermana McCrite (far right, next to Hayley):